Despite
last week’s rain and 50 degree temperatures, there will be no shortage of snow
at Satre Hill this weekend when the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA) hosts
ski jumping for the 87th year during Jumpfest Weekend in Salisbury,
CT, drawing some of the best junior jumpers in the East- many with Olympic
aspirations.
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| Human Dog Sled Race Photo credit: Jonathan Doster |
SWSA
president Ken Barker said “The night time temperatures dropped right after the
warm spell and we’ve been making snow ever since.” Barker added “We have two
snow guns that produce huge volumes of snow.”
With
overnight temperatures remaining low this week SWSA directors will continue snowmaking
to add extra cover to the landing hill.
“Our
biggest problem,” Barker said “is that because there isn’t much snow on the
ground out there, people may think that we don’t have any either. Right now,
our ski jump facility looks like a big white patch in a otherwise brown world.”
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| Ski Jumper Photo credit: Jonathan Doster |
The
three-day Jumpfest will include Target-Jumping Under the Lights as well as the
Human Dogsled Race, a crowd favorite where five humans pull one human on a sled
around a .3 mile course. Teams get very creative with both their costumes and
sleds.
Junior
jumpers, many of whom have recently completed in the junior jump camp, will
show off their new-found skills as they compete on the 20 and 30 meter hills.
Ice
carving will return to the Scoville Memorial Library again this year, but with
a new twist. In place of an actual competition, the event will feature
multiple-block demonstration pieces by some the areas (and country’s) best
carvers that will be sure to impress. To add to the fun, the areas best
restaurants will compete in a chili cook-off. At night, Snow Ball
revelers can dance to the rock and roll music of Common Folk and Treetop Blues
featuring Joe Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult fame.
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| Ice Sculpture Photo credit: Jonathan Doster |
Schedule of Events
Friday
Nite Lites
6:30 pm- Chili Cook-off
7 pm- Target-Jumping under
the lights.
Following jumping- Human Dogsled Race
Saturday
9 am- Nordic Kids 20 and 30
meter competition
11am-noon- practice for Salisbury
Invitational ski jumping competition
1pm-3pm- Salisbury
Invitational Competition
11am-3pm- Ice Carving
Demonstration featuring area’s best carvers, Scoville Memorial Library, free admission
8pm-midnight- Snow Ball,
featuring opening band The Common Folk and treetop Blues with Joe Bouchard of
Blue Oyster Cult fame, at the Lakeville Hose Co., admission: Adults $12,
children 12 and under free.
Sunday
Pancake Breakfast at
Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance building
11am- Practice 87th
Annual Eastern Ski Jumping Championships
1pm- Competition including
Junior Olympic hopefuls.
All jumping events held at
Satre Hill in Salisbury.
Unless otherwise noted,
admission for all events: $10 for adults and children 12 and under are free. Proceeds from Jumpfest
Weekend will fund SWSA’s children’s skiing programs.
For updates and program
changes go to www.Jumpfest.org. For area information www.litchfieldhills.com.
